Fresh PIL against DU’s four-year programme

A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in Delhi High Court on Wednesday challenging the legal validity of the Delhi University's controversial four-year graduation programme.

The petitioner's lawyer, Manoj Sharma, argued that Delhi University Act does not permit structural changes in the education system in the manner carried out with the courses. He contended that the National Education Policy of 1992 also prescribed that graduation should only be of three years and specified that there should be uniformity in graduation courses across the country.

Appearing for the Delhi University, senior lawyer Pinky Anand countered the argument by stating that the course had been approved by the Centre, UGC, academic council and executive council of the Delhi University.

The court fixed July 17 as the date for hearing detailed arguments on the PIL.

The court had on July 3 disposed off another PIL challenging the course which was filed by an NGO that represented the visually-impaired students. The court had disposed of that petition after extracting an assurance from the Delhi University that all grievances of visually-impaired students, especially regarding mandatory courses in mathematics and science, will be addressed before the commencement of the programme.